Building constructions and parts therefor or the like



Sept; 1, 1965 A. R. CRIPE 3,206,904

BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 2, 1962 INVENTOR ALAN R. CRIPE HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,206,904 BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Alan R. Cripe, Chesterfield County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corpo ration of Delaware Filed Aug. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 214,421 7 Claims. (Cl. 52--731) This invention relates to an improved building construction or the like as well as to improved parts for such a building construction or the like.

In particular, this invention provides improved post structure for a utility building or the like wherein the post structure is formed from two like extruded sections assembled together in a manner hereinafter described to provide a supporting post which can be utilized for forming corners of the building construction, door jamb securing means, and many other supporting structures thereof.

Since the post structure of this invention is formed from two like sections, the sections can be formed by a simple extruding operation whereby the building manufacturer need only cut the extruded stock into the desired lengths to form the post of the desired size and configuration.

Further, since the post structure of this invention is formed of two sections, each section can be formed into sub assemblies or walls that can be subsequently joined together when the sections of the post structure are secured together.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved building construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of .this invention is to provide improved parts for such a building construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the side walls of a building construction or the like.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, cross sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 2A is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating one method of forming sub-assemblies from the post sections of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating one method of forming one of the parts of the building construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating one method of forming another part of the building construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention where the door jamb occurs at the corner of the structure.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for forming vertical structures for a building construction or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide other structures as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate some of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a typical utility building construction or the like of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral and comprises a plurality of side walls 11 joined together at vertical corners 3,206,904 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 of the building construction 10 by post structures 12 of this invention, the post structures 12 also being utilized to frame a door 13 or the like in any of the sides 11 thereof.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, it can be seen that each post structure 12 is formed from a pair of like post sections 14 secured together in a manner hereinafter described.

While the post sections 14 can be formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material, the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings are formed by extruding metallic material, such as aluminum-containing metallic material or the like, from a conventional extruding apparatus 15 as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Each post section 14 has a cross section defined by a pair of legs 16 and 17 integrally joined together at right angles relative to each other and respectively having free ends 18 and 19.

The free end 19 of the leg 17 of each section 14 has a beveled side surface 20 which cooperates with an outwardly extending flange 21 to define an outwardly directed channel 22 adapted to complementarily receive the free end 18 of the leg 16 of a like section 14 inverted relative thereto, the free end 18 of the leg 16 of each section 14 having a beveled end surface 23 adapted to engage the beveled surface 20 of the free end 19 of the leg 17 of an adjacent section 14.

Therefore, it can be seen that a pair of like sections 14 can be interlocked together by merely inverting one of the post sections 14 relative to the other section and respectively inserting the free ends 18 of the legs 16 thereof into the channels 22 of the legs 17 thereof whereby the sections 14 are interlocked together except when pulled apart in one direction.

However, by subsequently fastening the interlocked sections 14 together by bolt means 24 passing through the legs 17 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2, the post sections 14 are secured together to prevent relative movement therebetween and provide a substantially rectangular hollow post structure 12 having the desired structural strength for forming part of the building construction 10.

While the building construction 10 can have any suitable configuration and be formed of any desired parts, the embodiment thereof illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 include a plurality of base and top members 25 respectively having an outwardly directed short peripheral flange 26 adapted to engage the corner post structures 12 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 to be secured thereto by a bolt means 27.

The base members 25 are adapted to be secured to a foundation or floor structure by suitable anchor belts or the like passing through apertures 28 formed therein. Similarly, the top members 25 can be secured to suitable roofing structure in any desired manner.

In order to wall-in the spaces between the corner post structures 12, a plurality of conventional metallic siding members 29 can have flanges 30 thereof secured to the post structures 12 by threaded fastening members 31. In addition, the bolt means 24 securing together the post sections 14 can be utilized to fasten the flanges 30 of the appropriate wall members 29 thereto, it normally being found that three such bolt means 24 can be satisfactorily utilized when the post structure 12 is approximately eight feet in length.

In order to appropriately trim and enclose the corner post structures 12, a trim member 32 can be utilized for each corner post structure 12 and can be secured to the wall members 29 by threaded fastening members 33.

Therefore, it can be seen that the post structures 12 of this invention are readily adaptable to forming the corner post structure of a building construction 10 or the like.

If desired, the respective sections 14 of each corner post 12 can be secured to their respective side wall structures before the sections 14 are secured together as illustrated in FIGURE 2A to form prefabricated panel sub-assemblies that can be joined together when the post sections 14 are joined together by the bolts 24.

Alternately, the side wall structures can be secured to the post structures 12 after the sections 14 thereof have been secured together in the above manner. I When the post structures 12 are adapted to frame the vertical sides of an opening providing'entrance means to the building construction 10as illustrated in FIGURE 2, one of the sections 14 of the framing post structure 12 can have the top and bottom portions thereof cut away to accommodate the flanges 26 of the top and bottom members 25. Alternately, the flanges 26 of the top and bottom members 25 can be removed in the region thereof to accommodate the, post structure 12 as desired.

The vertical framing post structures 12 are adapted to be secured to door jamb members 34 in a manner hereinafter described.

. The door jamb members 34 can be formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material, the embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings comprising metallic material, such as aluminum-containing metallic material or the like, extruded by a conventional extruding apparatus 35 as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Each door jamb 34 has a base leg 36 provided with an outer turned end 37 to define part of the exterior surface of the building construction 10.

A pair of staggered legs 38'and 39 extend in opposite directions from the base leg 36 thereof with the leg 39 having an outwardly turned flange 40 to cooperate with sealing means carried by door structure 41 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The inner portion of the base leg 36 of the door jamb 34 is adapted to be secured to a framing post structure 12 by the fastening means 24 thereof or auxiliary fastening means, as desired, while the leg 38 thereof is adapted to bevsecured to .the framing post structure 12 by threaded :fastenin-g members 42, the leg 38 also sandwiching the flange 30 of the side wall member 29 against the post structure 12in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2.

h The door structure 41 is adapted to be secured to the upper portion of the base leg 36 of the door jamb 34 by hinge means 43 secured thereto by fastening means 44.

While the door structure 41 can comprise any suitable material, the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings comprise channel framing members 45 receiving a panel structure 46 in the channels thereof and abutting inwardly directed portions 47 of the channel members 45. In addition, each channel member 45 includes an inwardly facing channel 48 adapted to receive a sealing means 49, such as a rubber gasket or the like, which extends outwardly from the channel member 45 and is adapted to abut the turned end 40 of the leg 39 of the door jamb 34 when the door structure 41 is disposed in its closed position to provide an air-tight seal therewith.

Suitable trim means 50 can be utilized to enclose the spaces between the door jambs 34 and the framing post structures 12, each trim structure 50 having a flange 51 secured to the wall member 29 by a threaded member 52 and the trim structure 50 having a flange 53 hooked under the turned end 37 of the base leg 36 of the respective door jamb 34.

While the door framing post structures 12 are illustrated in FIGURE 2 as being disposed intermediate the corners of the building construction 10, it is to be understood that the post structures 12 of this invention can be utilized as corner posts as well as door jamb securing means.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE wherein the post structure 12 is formed in the manner previously described and is utilized both as a corner post for the building construction as well as a door jamb carrying means, the door jamb 34 being identical to the door jamb 34 previously described and the door structure 41 being identical to the door structure 41 previously described.

In order to properly position the door jamb 34 of FIG- URE 5 relative to the corner post 12, a suitable positioning shim 54 can be disposed between the leg 38 of the door jamb 34and the post structure 12.

The trim means 32 previously described can also be utilized to enclose the cornerpost structure 12 of FIG- URE 5 by securing a flange 55 of the trim means32 to the side wall means 29 and having the other flange means 56 thereof hooked beneath the turned end 37 of the base leg 36 of the door jamb 34.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved building construction as well as improved parts for the building construction wherein the post structure thereof can be utilized in any desired manner and can be formed from a pair of like sections in a relatively simple and rapid manner. to provide structural strength for the building construction.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been:

disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. I

What is claimed is:

1. In a building construction or the like, a post formed of two sections respectively having identical cross-sectional configurations. with one of said sections inverted relative to the other section, each section being defined by two legs disposed at right angles relative to each other and respectively having free ends, said free end of one leg of each section being complementary to the free end of the other leg of the other section whereby said sections are interlocked relative to each by said free ends of the legs thereof except when pulled apart in one direction, and means directly fastening like legs of said sections together to prevent relative movement of said sections in said one direction.

2. In a building construction or the like as set forth in claim 1, said post forming a corner of said building construction.

3. In a building construction or the like; a post formed of two sections respectively having identical cross-sectional configurations with one of said sections inverted relative to the other section, each section being defined by two legs disposed at right angles relative to each other and respectively having free ends, said free end of one legof each section having a channel receiving the free end of the other leg of the other section whereby said sections are interlocked relative to each other by said free ends thereof except when pulled apart in one direction, and means directly fastening like legs. of said sections together to prevent relative movement of said sections in said one direction.

4. In a building construction or the like as set forth in claim 3, said post forming a corner of said building construction,

5.v In a building construction or the like, a post formed of two sections respectively having identical cross-sectional configurations with one of said sections inverted relative to the other section, each section being defined by two legs disposed at right angles relative to each other and respectively having free ends, said free end of one leg 'of each section having an outwardly directed flange that cooperates therewith to define a channel receiving the 'free end of the other leg of the other section whereby said sections are interlocked relative to each other except when pulled apart in one direction, and means directly fastening like legs of said sections together to .prevent relative movement of said sections in said one direction.

6. In a building constructionor the like asset forth in claim 5, said post forming a corner of said building 4 construction.

7. A section for forming a post for a building construction or the like, said section having a pair of legs dis- 5 posed at right angles relative to each other and respectively provided with free ends, one free end of one leg having a channel provided therein adapted to receive the free end of the other leg of another like section, said free end of said one leg having an inwardly directed flange provided with an outer surface disposed parallel to said other leg and cooperating with the remainder of said free end of said one leg to define said channel, said remainder of said free end of said one leg having an inwardly facing beveled surface that forms an acute angle with said outer surface of said flange, said free end of said other leg having a beveled end surface complementary to said facing beveled surface of said one leg.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,397 5/07 Beach et a1. 138-157 2,139,423 12/38 Scheeler 18982 X 3,072,226 1/36 Harwood 18934 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,803 7/66 Great Britain.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner. 

7. A SECTION FOR FORMING A POST FOR A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OR THE LIKE, SAID SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF LEGS DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED WITH FREE ENDS, ONE FREE END OF ONE LEG HAVING A CHANNEL PROVIDED THEREIN ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FREE END OF THE OTHER LEG OF ANOTHER LIKE SECTION, SAID FREE END OF SAID ONE LEG HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGE PROVIDED WITH AN OUTER SURFACE DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID OTHER LEG AND COOPERATING WITH THE REMAINDER OF SAID FREE END OF SAID ONE LEG TO DEFINE SAID CHANNEL, SAID REMAINDER OF SAID FREE END OF SAID ONE LEG HAVING AN INWARDLY FACING BEVELED SURFACE THAT FORMS AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH SAID OUTER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGES, SAID FREE END OF SAID OTHER LEG HAVING A BEVELED END SURFACE COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID FACING BEVELED SURFACE OF SAID ONE LEG. 